SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH MAGNETIC CLAMPING FORCE

[0001] Many surgical devices comprise end effectors with opposing jaw members that are capable of opening and closing. The jaw members grip tissue therebetween when the jaw members are in the closed position. Many such devices are hand-powered, whereby the operator retracts a closure trigger to cause the jaw members to transition to the closed positions, and releases the closure trigger to cause the jaw members to transition to the open position. Other types of surgical devices use electrical or pneumatic motors to close the jaw members.

[0002] Ways to reduce the external force required to clamp the jaw members or to make the required clamping force more uniform are desired.

[0003] In one general aspect, the present invention is directed to a surgical instrument comprising an end effector, the end effector comprising first and second opposing jaw members, wherein at least one of the first and second jaw members are moveable such that the first and second jaw members are transitionable between open and closed positions. The first jaw member may comprise a permanent magnet. The second jaw member may also comprise a magnet (e.g., permanent or soft). The magnetic motive force between the magnets of the first and second jaw members may attract each other to thereby reduce the external force required to transition the first and second jaw members to the closed position. In addition, the magnets may be configured to repeal each other to thereby aid in opening the jaw members.

[0009] Various embodiments are directed to apparatuses, systems, and methods for the treatment of tissue. Numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the overall structure, function, manufacture, and use of the embodiments as described in the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It will be understood by those skilled in the art, however, that the embodiments may be practiced without such specific details. In other instances, well-known operations, components, and elements have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the embodiments described in the specification. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the embodiments described and illustrated herein are non-limiting examples, and thus it can be appreciated that the specific structural and functional details disclosed herein may be representative and illustrative. Variations and changes thereto may be made without departing from the scope of the claims.

[0010] Reference throughout the specification to “various embodiments,” “some embodiments,” “one embodiment,” or “an embodiment,” or the like, means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in various embodiments,” “in some embodiments,” “in one embodiment,” or “in an embodiment,” or the like, in places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Thus, the particular features, structures, or characteristics illustrated or described in connection with one embodiment may be combined, in whole or in part, with the features structures, or characteristics of one or more other embodiments without limitation.

[0011] In one general aspect, the present invention is directed to any type of surgical device having an end effector with at least two jaw members for gripping or positioning tissue therebetween, and that uses magnetic motive force between magnets in the respective jaw members to aid in clamping and/or opening the jaw members. FIGS. 1-5 illustrate one type of surgical device 100 that may implement embodiments of the present invention. The illustrated device 100 is configured for transecting captured tissue positioned between the jaw members and for contemporaneously welding the captured tissue margins with controlled application of RF energy. Although the device 100 uses RF energy to weld the tissue margins, the present invention is not so limited and other mechanisms could be used for clamping the tissue in other embodiments, such as staples, harmonics, adhesives, etc. In addition, embodiments of the present invention could be used in a clamping device, such as various types of hemostats or other types of grippers. As shown in the example of FIGS. 1-5, the device 100 can comprise a proximal handle 105, a distal working end or end effector 110, and an introducer or elongate shaft 108 disposed in-between. End effector 110 may comprise a set of openable-closeable jaw members with straight or curved jaws: an upper first jaw 120A and a lower second jaw 120B. In various embodiments, first jaw 120A and second jaw 120B may each comprise an elongate slot or channel 142A and 142B (see FIG. 3), respectively, disposed outwardly along their respective middle portions. First jaw 120A and second jaw 120B may be coupled to an electrical source or RF source 145 and a controller 150 through electrical leads in cable 152. Controller 150 may be used to activate electrical source 145.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a side view of the handle 105 of device 100, shown with half of a first handle body 106A (see FIG. 1) removed to illustrate some of the components within second handle body 106B. Handle 105 may comprise a lever arm 128 that may be pulled along a path 129. Lever arm 128 may be coupled to a movable cutting member 140 disposed within elongate shaft 108 by a shuttle 146 operably engaged to an extension 127 of lever arm 128. The shuttle 146 may further be connected to a biasing device, such as spring 141, which may also be connected to the second handle body 106B, to bias the shuttle 146 and thus the cutting member 140 in a proximal direction, thereby urging the jaws 120A and 120B to an open position as seen in FIG. 1. Also, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a locking member 131 (see FIG. 2) may be moved by a locking switch 130 (see FIG. 1) between a locked position, where the shuttle 146 is substantially prevented from moving distally as illustrated, and an unlocked position, where the shuttle 146 may be allowed to freely move in the distal direction, toward the elongate shaft 108. The handle 105 can be any type of pistol-grip or other type of handle known in the art that is configured to carry actuator levers, triggers, or sliders for actuating the first jaw 120A and second jaw 120B. Elongate shaft 108 may have a cylindrical or rectangular cross-section and can comprise a thin-wall tubular sleeve that extends from handle 105. Elongate shaft 108 may include a bore extending therethrough for carrying actuator mechanisms, for example, cutting member 140, for actuating the jaws and for carrying electrical leads for delivery of electrical energy to electrosurgical components of end effector 110.

[0013] End effector 110 may be adapted for capturing (or clamping), welding, and transecting tissue in various embodiments. First jaw 120A and second jaw 120B may close to thereby capture, clamp, or engage tissue about a longitudinal axis 125 defined by cutting member 140. First jaw 120A and second jaw 120B may also apply compression to the tissue. Elongate shaft 108, along with first jaw 120A and second jaw 120B, can be rotated a full 360° degrees, as shown by arrow 117, relative to handle 105 through, for example, a rotary triple contact. First jaw 120A and second jaw 120B can remain openable and/or closeable while rotated.

[0014] The jaw members of the end effector 110 are transitionable between open and closed positions, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, which are perspective views of end effector 110 in the open and closed positions, respectively. In various embodiments, the first jaw 120A and second jaw 120B may each have tissue-gripping elements, such as teeth 143, disposed on the inner portions of first jaw 120A and second jaw 120B. First jaw 120A may comprise an upper first jaw body 161A with an upper first outward-facing surface 162A and an upper first energy delivery surface 175A. Second jaw 120B may comprise a lower second jaw body 161B with a lower second outward-facing surface 162B and a lower second energy delivery surface 175B. First energy delivery surface 175A and second energy delivery surface 175B may both extend in a “U” shape about the distal end of end effector 110.

[0015] Referring briefly now to FIG. 5, a portion of cutting member 140 is shown. The lever arm 128 of handle 105 (see FIG. 2) may be adapted to actuate cutting member 140, which also functions as a jaw-closing mechanism. For example, cutting member 140 may be urged distally as lever arm 128 is pulled proximally along path 129 via shuttle 146, seen in FIG. 2 and discussed above. The cutting member 140 may comprise one or several pieces, but in any event, may be movable or translatable with respect to the elongate shaft 108 and/or jaws 120A, 120B. In addition, in at least one embodiment, the cutting member 140 may be made of 17-4 precipitation hardened stainless steel. The distal end of cutting member 140 may comprise a flanged “I”-beam configured to slide within channels 142A and 142B in jaws 120A and 120B. Cutting member 140 may slide within channels 142A, 142B to open and close first jaw 120A and second jaw 120B. The distal end of cutting member 140 may also comprise upper flange or “c”-shaped portion 140A and lower flange or “c”-shaped portion 140B. The flanges 140A and 140B respectively define inner cam surfaces 144A and 144B for engaging outward facing surfaces of first jaw 120A and second jaw 120B. The opening-closing of jaws 120A and 120B can apply very high compressive forces on tissue using cam mechanisms which may include reciprocating “I-beam” cutting member 140 and the outward facing surfaces 162A, 162B of jaws 120A, 120B.

[0016] More specifically, referring now to FIGS. 3-5, collectively, inner cam surfaces 144A and 144B of the distal end of cutting member 140 may be adapted to slidably engage first outward-facing surface 162A and second outward-facing surface 162B of first jaw 120A and second jaw 120B, respectively. Channel 142A within first jaw 120A and channel 142B within second jaw 120B may be sized and configured to accommodate the movement of cutting member 140, which may comprise a tissue-cutting element, for example, a sharp distal edge. FIG. 4, for example, shows the distal end of cutting member 140 advanced at least partially through channels 142A and 142B (see FIG. 3). The advancement of cutting member 140 can close end effector 110 from the open configuration shown in FIG. 3. In the closed position shown by FIG. 4, upper first jaw 120A and lower second jaw 120B define a gap or dimension D between the first energy delivery surface 175A and second energy delivery surface 175B of first jaw 120A and second jaw 120B, respectively. Dimension D equals from about 0.0005″ to about 0.005″ and preferably between about 0.001″ to about 0.002″. In addition, the edges of first energy delivery surface 175A and second energy delivery surface 175B may be rounded to prevent the dissection of tissue.

[0017] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 3, end effector 110 may be coupled to electrical source 145 and controller 150. First energy delivery surface 175A and second energy delivery surface 175B may likewise each be coupled to electrical source 145 and controller 150. First energy delivery surface 175A and second energy delivery surface 175B may be configured to contact tissue and delivery electrosurgical energy to engaged tissue, which is adapted to seal or weld the tissue. Controller 150 can regulate the electrical energy delivered by electrical source 145, which in turn delivers electrosurgical energy to first energy-delivery surface 175A and second energy-delivery surface 175B. The energy delivery may be initiated by an activation button 124 operably engaged with lever arm 128 and in electrically communication with controller 150 via cable 152. As mentioned above, the electrosurgical energy delivered by electrical source 145 may comprise radiofrequency (RF) energy. Further, the opposing first and second energy delivery surfaces 175A and 175B may carry variable resistive positive temperature coefficient (PTC) bodies that are coupled to electrical source 145 and controller 150. Additional details regarding electrosurgical end effectors, jaw closing mechanisms, and electrosurgical energy-delivery surfaces are described in the following U.S. patents and published patent applications, all of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference and made a part of this specification: U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,354,440; 7,381,209; 7,311,709; 7,309,849; 7,220,951; 7,189,233; 7,186,253; 7,169,156; 7,125,409; 7,112,201; 7,087,054; 7,083,619; 7,070,597; 7,041,102; 7,011,657; 6,929,644; 6,926,716; 6,913,579; 6,905,497; 6,802,843; 6,770,072; 6,656,177; 6,533,784; and 6,500,176; and U.S. Pat. App. Pub. Nos. 2010/0036370 and 2009/0076506.

[0018] In at least one embodiment, one or both of the jaws 120A, 120B may be flexible, such that one of the jaws is configured to flex when gripping tissue. In at least one embodiment, referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the surgical instrument 100 may comprise elongate shaft 108 and end effector 110, which may be coupled together as described above. The end effector may further comprise first jaw 120A, second jaw 120B, and cutting member 140. The first jaw 120A, as will be discussed below, may be flexible. Further, the first and second jaws 120A and 120B may be pivotably coupled together at hinge portion 122. The first flexible jaw 120A may also define channel 142A. The cutting member 140 may be sized and configured to fit at least partially within the channel 142A. The cutting member 140 may also be configured to translate along the channel 142A, as described above, between a retracted position and a fully advanced position. The retracted position can be seen in FIG. 3, where the jaws 120A, 120B are in an open position and a distal end 148 of the cutting member 140 is positioned proximal to the upper outward-facing surface 162A. The fully advanced position, while not shown, occurs when the distal end 148 of the cutting member 140 is advanced to a distal end 164 of channel 142A and the jaws are in a closed position, see FIG. 4.

[0019] The end effector 110 may further include at least one compression element extending from the cutting member 140, such as inner cam surface 144A and/or 144B of flanges 140A and 140B, see FIG. 5. Further, as described above, the compression element(s), or cam surfaces 144A and/or 144B, may be configured to cause the first flexible jaw 120A to rotate with respect to the second jaw 120B from the open position (see FIG. 3) to a closed position (see FIG. 4) when the cutting member 140 translates with respect to the first flexible jaw 120A beyond the retracted position. For example, FIG. 4, as mentioned above, shows the distal end 148 of the cutting member 140 in a partially advanced position, that is, beyond the retracted position seen in FIG. 3, but before the fully advanced position, described above. As seen in FIG. 4, the compression element(s), or inner cam surface 144A of flange 140A, extending from the cutting member 140, are in contact with the upper outward-facing surface 162A, see FIG. 5, for example, thereby holding the first flexible jaw 120A in the closed position as seen in FIG. 4.

[0020] As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention use magnetomotive force between magnets in the respective jaw members of the end effector, such as first jaw 120A and second jaw 120B of end effector 110, to aid in clamping and/or opening the jaw members 120A-120B. When there is an attractive magnetomotive force between the magnets in the respective jaw members, the magnetomotive force may aid in clamping the jaw members, thereby reducing the external force-to-fire (FTF) required to clamp the end effector. In such embodiments, the end effector 110 may comprise other force means for overcoming the attractive magnetomotive force when attempting to open the jaw members 120A, 120B, such as, for example, a spring biased to urge the jaw members 120A, 120B apart. When there is a repellant magnetomotive force between the magnets in the respective jaw members, the magnetomotive force may aid in opening or unclamping the jaw members.

[0021] FIGS. 6A-B show the jaws 120A, 120B having respective magnets 180, 182. The magnets 180, 182 are preferably located at or toward the distal ends of the jaws 120A, 120B, although in other embodiments the magnets 180, 182 may not be located at the distal end of the jaws 120A, 120B, such as more proximate locations in the jaw members 120A, 120B. In addition, the magnets 180, 182 are preferably aligned, such as both at the distal end of the end effector, so that when the jaw members 120A, 120B are in the closed position, the magnets 180, 182 are in close proximity. Additionally, although only one magnet 180 is shown in first jaw 120A and only one corresponding magnet 182 is shown in second jaw 120B, multiple aligned, corresponding magnets pairs may be used in the first and second jaws 120A, 120B to increase the magnetomotive force between the jaws 120A, 120B.

[0022] In various embodiments, at least one of the magnets, such as magnet 180 in first jaw 120A, may be a permanent magnet. As such, the permanent magnet 180 may comprise permanent magnetic material, such as iron, nickel, cobalt, magnetic rare earth metals (such as neodymium and samarium), and/or magnetic alloys thereof (e.g., Alnico, neodymium-iron-boron, or samarium-cobalt). In addition, the permanent magnet 180 may be a switchable permanent magnet, such as an electromagnet or a rotatable permanent magnet, described further below.

[0023] The magnet 182 of the second jaw 120B may be, for example, a permanent magnet or a soft magnet. In embodiments where the magnet 182 is a permanent magnet, it may comprise permanent magnetic material (such as the example permanent magnetic materials described above). In addition, in various embodiments, the permanent magnet 182 may comprise a switchable permanent magnet, such as an electromagnet or a rotatable magnet, for example. In embodiments where the magnet 182 is a soft magnet, the magnet 182 may comprise soft ferromagnetic material, such as steel and other nickel-iron or nickel-cobalt alloys. In embodiments where the magnet 182 is a soft magnet, the magnetomotive force between the magnets 180, 182 may only assist in closing the jaw 120A, 120B and not in opening the jaws 120A, 120B as the magnetomotive force is an attractive force only. When both magnets 180, 182 are made of permanent magnetic materials, they may repeal or retract each other, depending on their magnetic polarity. If the permanent magnets 180, 182 are configured to attract each other, their magnetomotive force will aid in closing the jaws 120A, 120B, but hinder opening the jaws 120A, 120B. Conversely, if the permanent magnets 180, 182 are configured to repeal each other, their magnetomotive force will aid in opening the jaws 120A, 120B, but hinder closing the jaws 120A, 120B.

[0024] As mentioned above, either the magnet 180 or the magnet 182 may be an electromagnet. In such embodiments, the current through the electromagnet may be switched, or reversed, to reverse the magnetomotive force between the magnets 180,182. That way, depending on the orientation of the magnetic field from the electromagnet(s) (which depends on the direction of the current through the coil of the electromagnet(s)), the electromagnet(s) may be used to assist closing and opening of the jaws 120A, 120B of the end effector. FIG. 8 is a diagram of a circuit 200 for controlling an electromagnet 202 according to various embodiments. The electromagnet 202 may be used for magnet 180 and/or magnet 182, for example. In the illustrated embodiment, the coil 204 of the electromagnet 202 is coupled to a power source 206 via a bridge circuit comprising switches 208_1-4. The switches 208_1-4 may be reverse polarity devices, such as BJTs or MOSFETs, for example. The switches 208_1-4 may be discrete devices or they may be part of an integrated circuit, for example. The switches 208_1-4 are controlled by a control circuit 210, which controls opening and closing of the switches 208_1-4 (e.g., the turning on and turning off of the switches 208_1-4).

[0025] In one embodiment, the control circuit 210 controls the switches 208_1-4 such that switches 208₁ and 208₄ open and close together, and such that 208₂ and 208₃ open and close together, and open and close oppositely from switches 208₁ and 208₄. That way, when switches 208₁ and 208₄ are closed (on), switches 208₂ and 208₃ are open (off), providing a first current direction through the coil 204. When switches 208₂ and 208₃ are closed (on), switches 208₁ and 208₄ are open (off), providing a second current direction through the coil 204 that is opposite to the first current direction. In that way, the polarity of the magnetic field from the electromagnet 202 can be controlled (e.g., reversed). Preferably, the control circuit 210 controls the switches 208_1-4 such that are not all closed at the same time. The control circuit 210 may be separate from the switches 208_1-4; in other embodiments, the control circuit 210 and the switches 208_1-4 may be part of a common integrated circuit.

[0026] In various embodiments, the power source 206 may be remotely located from the electromagnet 202, such as part of the electrical source 145. As such, the electrical source 145 may provide DC power to the circuit 200. Coupling wires through the shaft 108 may couple the remote power source 206 to the switches 208_1-4 and the electromagnet 202. In other embodiments, the power source 206 may be located in the handle 105. In such embodiments, the power source 206 may comprise one or more battery cells. In a similar manner, the battery cell(s) may be coupled to the switches 208_1-4 and the electromagnet 202 by wires running through the shaft 108. More details regarding surgical devices having an opening-and-closing end effector and with a battery cell(s) in the handle of the device may be found in the following published U.S. patent application, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety: Pub. No. 2007/0175960; Pub. No. 2008/0167522; and Pub. No. 2009/0209979.

[0027] The control circuit 210 may receive inputs from user controls and/or sensors of the device 100. For example, when the user retracts the trigger arm 128, retraction of the trigger arm 128 may be sensed by a sensor 211, which sensor output is input to the control circuit 210. Based thereon, the control circuit 210 may control the switches 208_1-4 such that the magnetic field from the electromagnet 202 aids in closing the jaws 120A, 120B. Conversely, when the lever arm 128 transitions from its closed (or retracted) position to its open (or unretracted) position, the control circuit 210 may control the switches 208_1-4 so that the polarity of the magnetic field from the electromagnet 202 is reversed, thereby aiding in opening the jaws 120A, 120B. In devices 100 where a push-button(s) is used to open and close the end effector 110, the control circuit 210 may be responsive to activation of the push-button(s) for opening and closing the jaws 120A, 120B.

[0028] In various embodiments, the control circuit 210 may be responsive to other sensors, such as a pressure sensor 212 and/or a position sensor 214, for example. The pressure sensor 212 may be located in the end effector 110 and may sense the compression force on the tissue between the jaws 120A, 120B. If the compression force exceeds a threshold level as sensed by the pressure sensor 212, the control circuit 210 may open the switches 208_1-4 to turn off the electromagnet 202. In addition, in such circumstances, the control circuit 210 could control the switches to open the jaw members. The position sensor 214 may sense, for example, the distance between the jaws 120A, 120B, which is indicative of the thickness of the tissue clamped between the jaws. The position sensor 214 may comprise a Hall effect sensor, for example. In various embodiments, if the tissue thickness is less than a threshold level as sensed by the position sensor 214, the control circuit 210 may open the switches 208_1-4 to turn off the electromagnet 202. In addition, in such circumstances, the control circuit 210 could control the switches to open the jaw members. More details regarding implementation of a pressure (or load) sensor and/or position sensors in an opening-and-closing end effector of a surgical device may be found in U.S. Pub. No. 2006/0212069, U.S. Pub. No. 2009/0076534, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/647,134, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. In various embodiments, the circuit 200 may also comprise passive circuit elements, such as resistors, to dissipate current to the electromagnet 202, to thereby control the magnitude of the current to the electromagnet 202, and hence the strength of the magnetic field from the electromagnet 202.

[0029] In various embodiments, one of the magnets (e.g., magnet 180) may be an electromagnet and the other magnet (e.g., magnet 182) may comprise permanent magnetic or soft magnetic materials. Where the second magnet 182 comprises permanent magnetic materials, the electromagnet 180 may repeal or attract the second magnet 182, depending on the polarity of the magnetic field from the electromagnet 180 (which can be controlled by the control circuit). In other embodiments, both magnets 180, 182 may be electromagnets. In such embodiments, by suitably varying the direction of the current through the coils of the electromagnets (which can be controlled by the control circuit), the two electromagnets can be configured to attract or repeal each other, thereby aiding closing and opening of the jaws 120A, 120B.

[0030] The electromagnet(s) 180, 182 may be positioned at the distal end of the jaw member(s) 120, 120B. In other embodiments, the electromagnet(s) 180, 182 may be positioned more proximately in the jaw member(s) 120, 120B. In addition, a magnetic field concentrator(s) may be used to concentrate the magnetic field from the electromagnet(s) 180, 182 at a desired location in the end effector 102. That way, for example, the electromagnet(s) 180, 182 does not need to be located in the precise location where the magnetic field is desired. Examples of a magnetic field concentrator can be found in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,513,025, which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0031] In addition to electromagnets, another type of switchable permanent magnet that may be used for one of the magnets is a rotatable permanent magnet, as illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B. These figures show cross-sectional front views of the jaws 120A, 120B, with the jaws 120A, 120B connected by the I-beam cutting member 140. In the illustrated example, the upper jaw 120A comprises ferromagnetic side portions 240A-B, separated by a non-ferrous middle portion 242. In various embodiments, the ferromagnetic side portions 240A-B may comprise a ferromagnetic material, such as iron and/or alloys thereof. The non-ferrous middle portion 242 may comprise a non-ferromagnetic material, such as brass or aluminum (Al), for example. The upper jaw 120A may define a central bore or opening, in which a central, rotatable, preferably cylindrical, permanent magnet 244 is disposed. The central rotatable permanent magnet 244 may have opposing poles (e.g., North and South poles), and may be rotatable within the bore between an on (or closed) position (see FIG. 7A) and an off (or open) position (see FIG. 7B). The lower jaw 120B may also comprise permanent magnetic material and may include opposing poles (e.g., North and South poles), as shown in FIGS. 7A-7B. When the central rotatable permanent magnet 244 is in the on or closed position, as shown in FIG. 7A, the jaw members 120A, 120B may experience an attractive magnetomotive force, aiding in closing the jaw members 120A, 120B. When the permanent magnet 244 is in the off or open position, as shown in FIG. 7AB, the jaw members 120A, 120B may experience a repellant magnetomotive force, aiding in opening the jaw members 120A, 120B. The attractive and repellant magnetomotive forces may be adjusted in such an embodiment by controlling the amount of rotation of the central rotatable permanent magnet 244, such as by controlling whether the central rotatable permanent magnet 244 is fully or partially open, and/or fully or partially closed. The central rotatable permanent magnet 244 may be rotated by, for example, a push rod or alternating pulling cables extending through the shaft 108. In other embodiments, inner and outer tube arrangements for the shaft 108 may be used to rotate the central rotatable permanent magnet 244. In addition, rotation of the central rotatable permanent magnet 244 may be coupled to the closing mechanism for the end effector 110 in various embodiments. For example, when the closing mechanism is actuated to close the jaw members 120A, 120B of the end effector 110, the central rotatable permanent magnet 244 may correspondingly be rotated to the closed position to aid in closing of the jaw members 120A, 120B of the end effector 110. Conversely, when the closing mechanism is actuated to open the jaw members 120A, 120B of the end effector 110, the central rotatable permanent magnet 244 may correspondingly be rotated to the open position to aid in opening of the jaw members 120A, 120B of the end effector 110.

[0032] The above described embodiments may be employed in any suitable surgical device comprising an opening-closing end effector with two jaw members moveable relative to each other, including, but not limited to bipolar RF surgical devices, harmonic devices (e.g., the jaw members may comprise one jaw and one blade in such embodiments), endo-cutters, clamps, etc.

[0033] The devices disclosed herein may be designed to be disposed of after a single use, or they may be designed to be used multiple times. In either case, however, the device may be reconditioned for reuse after at least one use. Reconditioning may include a combination of the steps of disassembly of the device, followed by cleaning or replacement of particular pieces, and subsequent reassembly. In particular, the device may be disassembled, and any number of particular pieces or parts of the device may be selectively replaced or removed in any combination. Upon cleaning and/or replacement of particular parts, the device may be reassembled for subsequent use either at a reconditioning facility, or by a surgical team immediately prior to a surgical procedure. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the reconditioning of a device may utilize a variety of different techniques for disassembly, cleaning/replacement, and reassembly. Use of such techniques, and the resulting reconditioned device, are all within the scope of this application.

[0034] Preferably, the various embodiments of the devices described herein will be processed before surgery. First, a new or used instrument is obtained and if necessary cleaned. The instrument can then be sterilized. In one sterilization technique, the instrument is placed in a closed and sealed container, such as a plastic or TYVEK® bag. The container and instrument are then placed in a field of radiation that can penetrate the container, such as gamma radiation, x-rays, or high-energy electrons. The radiation kills bacteria on the instrument and in the container. The sterilized instrument can then be stored in the sterile container. The sealed container keeps the instrument sterile until it is opened in the medical facility. Other sterilization techniques can be done by any number of ways known to those skilled in the art including beta or gamma radiation, ethylene oxide, and/or steam.

[0035] It will be appreciated that the terms “proximal” and “distal” may be used throughout the specification with reference to a clinician manipulating one end of an instrument used to treat a patient. The term “proximal” refers to the portion of the instrument closest to the clinician and the term “distal” refers to the portion located furthest from the clinician. It will be further appreciated that for conciseness and clarity, spatial terms such as “vertical,” “horizontal,” “up,” and “down” may be used herein with respect to the illustrated embodiments. However, surgical instruments may be used in many orientations and positions, and these terms are not intended to be limiting and absolute.

[0036] Although the various embodiments of the devices have been described herein in connection with certain disclosed embodiments, many modifications, and variations to those embodiments may be implemented. For example, different types of end effectors may be employed. Also, where materials are disclosed for certain components, other materials may be used. Furthermore, according to various embodiments, a single component may be replaced by multiple components, and multiple components may be replaced by a single component, to perform a given function or functions. The foregoing description and following claims are intended to cover all such modification and variations.

[0037] Any patent, publication, or other disclosure material, in whole or in part, that is said to be incorporated by reference herein is incorporated herein only to the extent that the incorporated materials does not conflict with existing definitions, statements, or other disclosure material set forth in this disclosure. As such, and to the extent necessary, the disclosure as explicitly set forth herein supersedes any conflicting material incorporated herein by reference. Any material, or portion thereof, that is said to be incorporated by reference herein, but which conflicts with existing definitions, statements, or other disclosure material set forth herein will only be incorporated to the extent that no conflict arises between that incorporated material and the existing disclosure material.